Tennis ball trap



Marh 9, 1943. c. l.. WALKER vTENNS BALL'-TRAP Filed April 10, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 9, n C.. L. WALKER I v TENNIS BALL TRA;a

/6 INVENToIIe.

Patented Mar. 9, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,313,409 TENNIS BALL TRAP Clinton L. Walker, Piedmont, Calif. Application April 10, 1940, Serial No. 328,931

claims.

My invention relates to ball projecting devices, and particularly to a tennis ball projecting device which is automatically operated to project a plurality of balls seriatum in a particular manner.

While ball projecting devices have been manufactured heretofore, such devices were usually complicated and expensive. The majority of the devices required an operator to place and release each of the balls independently and the ejecting tube required aiming to project a ball in a particular manner into a desired zone.

In practicing this present invention a mobile base is provided containing a ball ejecting trough and a striking plunger which is automatically operated. A hopper is mounted for tilting movement above the base and tube which delivers balls to the trough. A motor is employed for automatically engaging, loading and releasing the plunger which advances to strike the ball'and force it from the trough. The motor also oscillates the hopper in which a guide is provided adjacent to the opening to the tube for directing the balls, moving from one or the other end of the hopper, through the opening.

The trough is attached to the base at a slightly rearward angle to prevent the balls from rolling forwardly therefrom. A delector element is mounted at the 4mouth of the trough, being adjustable to vary the height at which the ball is delivered from the device. The tension on the plunger is adjustable so that the force applied to the plunger may be varied. The adjustment of the tension and the position of the defiector controls the speed and iiight of the ball.

Accordingly, the main objects of myinvention are; to provide a ball projecting device having means for delivering balls to a trough from which they are propelled seriatum by a plunger; to provide a base having a trough therein which slopes toward a plunger which has a continuously operated engaging element'for stressing and releasing the plunger to eject a ball Vfrom the trough; to provide a trough and operating Dlungerwith a hopper containing a plurality of balls which are delivered to the trough through a tube as the balls roll across the mouth thereof; to provide a motorrfor engaging, tensioning and releasing the plunger and for oscillatinga hopper containing the balls to deliver them to the ejecting device; to provide a' ballejecting device with an adjustable deflector at the mouth thereof for controlling the Vloft to the ejected ball; and in general, to provide a ball ejecting employed to engage a simple in construction, positive in operation and economical of manufacture.

Other objects and features of novelty of my invention will be either specifically pointed out or will become apparent when referring, for abetter understanding of my invention, to the following description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a sectional view of a ball delivering and projecting device, embodying features of my invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the projecting device illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a top perspective view of the device illustrated in Fig. .2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged view, in elevation, of an upright onthe device illustrated in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the structure shown in Fig. 1, taken on the line 5 5 thereof; and,

Fig. 6 is a reduced perspective view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 1, taken from the b'all' ejecting end thereof with the cover of the hopper in open position.

Referring to the gures, I have illustrated a motor I, which is connected by the usual flexible electric cable to a source of electric energy situated adjacent to a tennis court. A c-ontrol switch is preferably provided in the cable or in a branch thereof so that the device is under complete control of a director. The motor is preferably of a type having a reduction gearing so as to have the shaft thereof operate at a slow speed for operating a crank arm 2. A connecting rod 4 is attached to the crank pin of the arm and is pin ,'I in a ball projecting plunger 6 through its movement over a roller 8 which produces the engagement and release of the hook end of the rod from the pin'.

A barrel S has an aperture 3l in which the plunger 6 operates, and has forwardly thereof a trough 32 from which the ball is ejected. It will be noted that the diameter of the plunger 6 is smaller than the diameter of the ball so that the device which is 55 vided adjacent to ball is prevented from rolling into the plunger opening 3 I. The plunger is provided with a cross pin I6 having at each side pairs of rubber shock cords II and I2, the former of which propels the plunger 6 while the latter absorbs the shock after the ball is ejected. The ends of the shock cords are supported on uprights` I3 and are anchored in place by screw hooks I9 by which the tension on the cords may be adjusted.

A ball storage hopper Ill is mounted on a-hinge 22 for tilting movement. An aperture 33 is proa tube I6 which is employed to deliver the balls to the trough 32. The hopper is provided with a cover I to which a handle 20 is attached for the purpose of moving the device about the court. Forwardly of the trough 32 I have provided a hinged deecting element I1 which has a link 34 pivoted thereto and having an eye connection with a rod 35 by which the deiiector may be angularly adjusted relative to the trough. The deflector controls the trajectory of the ball as it leaves the trough 32. It will be noted further that the rolling action of the ball on the trough and the deector produces an over-roll of the ball which provides extra impetus thereto when striking and bounding from the court. Y I

Suspended from the hopper I4 I'have providedY a curtain I8 which surrounds the operating mechanism o-f the device to cushion the sound produced thereby. The barrel 9 is mounted upon a base 24 which is supported on a pair of wheels 2I and also on legs 23. A link 3 is also connected to the pivot of the crank 2 and to a plate 21 on the hopper I4 by a pivot 2B. A pair of guide elements 25 are mounted within the hopper I4 having projections extending adjacent to the opening 33 for the purpose of directing the balls over the opening as thehopper is oscillated by the arm 3 as the crank arm 2 is rotated.

The operation of the device is as follows: As the motor is operated the crank arm 2 running at reduced speed will advance the hook on the rod 4 toward the pin 1, with which it' engages as the rod is raised from the roller 8. Upon the continued movement of the arm 2 the rod 4, in engagement with the pin 1, will draw the plunger 6 rearwardly against the tension of the rubber shock cords I I. Further movement of the arm 2 causes the rod 4 to engage the roller 8 and moves the hook end out of contact with the pin 1, thereby releasing the plunger which is drawn forwardly by the shock cords II. The forward movement of the plunger ejects a ball from the trough 32 and the movement of the plunger is snubbed by the shock cords I2 which are also attached to the pin Ill.

During the operation of the rod 4 the link 3 produces the oscillation of the hopper I4 and the delivery of another ball to the tube I6. The deflector I1 is adjusted to produce the proper loft to the ball, as the tilt of the barrel is such as to direct the balls at or below the height of the net. The shock cords may be adjusted in tension to control the speed of the ball in addition to the adjustment of the pin 1 on the plunger. Through the various adjustments the speed, loft and point of deivery of a ball may be regulated and continuously repeated.

While I have described and illustrated several embodiments of my invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art. that various changes, omissions, additions and substitutions may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, as set forth in the accompanying claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a ball projecting machine, a base, a barrel, a plunger in said barrel, biasing means for said plunger, an element having a releasable hook for moving the plunger to provide a bias thereto, means for releasing the hook from said plunger, means for delivering balls adjacent to the mouth of the barrel ahead of said plunger, a defiector in the path of the ball which is adjustable to control the trajectory thereof, a ball storage hopper pivoted above said base and ball delivering means, a crank arm for oscillating said hopper and a motor for continuously driving the hooked element and said crank arm.

2. In a ball projecting machine, a base, a barrel, a plunger reciprocably mounted in said barrel, a shaft projecting on either side of the plunger, shock cords projecting forwardly and rearwardly of the shaft on each side thereof, an adjustable detent on said plunger, an operating element engageable by said detent for stressing one set of the shock cords when the plunger is moved in one direction, which plunger is advanced in the opposite direction by the shock cords upon the release of the element by the detent, the

vmovement of the plunger in said last direction being absorbed by the other set of shock cords.

3Q In a ball projecting device, a-ball projecting trough, a barrel communicating with said trough,

a plunger in said barrel, biasing means for said plunger and means releasably engaging the plunger at variable points for applying a variable stress to said biasing means when moving the plunger away from the trough which, when released, moves forward and ejects the ball from. the ball projecting trough under the stress selected.

4. In a ball projecting device, a ball projecting element,a barrel communicating withl said element, a plunger in said barrel; biasing means forl said plunger, means releasably engaging the plunger at variable points forapplying a stress to said biasing means when moving the plunger away from the projecting element, which, when released, moves forward at selected speeds for ejecting the ball from the ball projecting ele ment, and a deflector adjacent to the ball delivery end which is adjustable to vary the loft to the ball so delivered.

5. In a ball delivering device, a base, a ball delivering "element, a ball striking element, resilient means engaging said ball striking element, an adjustable member on said striking element, a crankarm, a memberengageable with said adjustable member,engaging and operated by said crank arm, and motor means for driving said crank arm continuously to produce the engagement of the members and for moving the ball striking element to stress the biasing means, andmeans for thereafter separating the members for releasing the striking element which ejects the ball.

6. In a ball delivering device, a base, a ball delivering element, a ball striking element, resililent means engaging said ball striking element, an adjustable member on said striking element, a crankarma member engageable with said adjustable member, and operated by said crank arm, motor means for driving said crank arm continuously to produce the engagement of the members and for moving the ball, striking elementl against the biasing means, means for thereafter separating said members for releasing the striking element which ejects the ball and means for delivering balls to said ball ejecting end to permit the continued operation of the device.

'7. In a ball delivering device, a base, a ball delivering element, a ball striking element, resilient means engaging said ball striking element, an adjustable member on said striking element, a crank arm, an element releasably engageable with said adjustable member which is operated by said crank arm, motor means for driving said crank arm continuously to produce the engagement of the releasable element and member moving the ball striking element against the biasing means, means for thereafter separating the releasing element from said member for ejecting the ball, means for delivering balls to said ball ejecting end to produce the continued operation of the device, said ball delivering means including a storage hopper which is pivoted for til-ting movement, and a link interconnecting said crank arm and hopper for delivering balls therefrom as the arm is continuously operated.

8. In a ball deilvering device, a base, wheels on said base rendering said device mobile, a ball delivering element, a plunger projectable into said element, a shaft extending through said plunger, forwardly and rearwardly disposed shock cords connected to said shaft at each side of the plunger, a pin on said plunger adjustable longitudinally thereof, a crank arm, a rod on said crank arm having a hook projectable over said pin, a roller in the path of movement of said rod to control the engagement and disengagement of the hook with said pin, whereby the continued operation of the arm causes engagement of the hook with the pin, the movement of the plunger to tension one set of shock cords and to cause the release of the hook from the pin to permit the plunger to move toward the ball under the stress of said shock cords, the movement of which is absorbed by the other set of shock cords.

9. In a ball delivering device, a base, wheels on said base rendering said device mobile, a ball projecting element, a plunger projectable into said element, a shaft extending through said plunger, forwardly and rearwardly disposed shock cords connected to said shaft at each side of the plunger, a pin on said plunger adjustable longitudinally thereof, a crank arm, a rod on said crank arm having a hook projectable over said pin, a roller in the path of movement of said rod to control the engagement and disengagement of the hook with said pin, a tube mounted on said ball projecting element for delivering balls thereto, and a storage hopper mounted above the base for tilting movement having an opening aligned with said tube.

10. In a ball delivering device, a base, wheels on said base rendering said device mobile, a ball projecting element, a plunger projectable into said element, a shaft extending through said plunger, forwardly and rearwardly disposed shock cords connected to said shaft at each side of the plunger, a pin on said plunger adjustable longitudinally thereof, a crank arm, a rod on said crank arm having a hook projectable over said pin, a roller in the path of movement of said rod to control the engagement and disengagement of the hook with said pin, a tube mounted on said ball projecting element for delivering balls thereto, a storage hopper mounted above the base for tilting movement having an opening aligned with said tube, and a link interconnecting the hopper with the crank arm for tilting said hopper as the plunger is continuously operated to deliver balls to the ball projecting element seriatum. y

11. In a ball delivering device, a base, wheels on said base rendering said device mobile, a ball projecting element, a plunger projectable into said element, a shaft extending through said plunger, forwardly and rearwardlyr disposed shock cords connected to said shaft at each side of the plunger, a pin on said plunger adjustable longitudinally thereof, a crank arm, a rod on.l

said crank arm having a hook projectable over said pin, a roller in the path of movement 4of said rod to control the engagement and disengagement of the hook with said pin, a tube mounted on said ball projecting element for delivering balls thereto, a storage hopper mounted above the base for tilting movement having an opening aligned with said tube, a link interconnecting the hopper with the crank arm for tilting said hopper as the plunger is continuously operated to deliver balls to the ball projecting element, and an adjustable deilector adjacent to the front end of the ball projecting element for controlling the loft of the ball relative to the speeds of delivery thereof.

12. In a ball projecting device, a barrel, a floating projecting element in said barrel, and stressed resilient members connected forwardly and rearwardly to said element for positioning said element at rest within said barrel.

13. In a ball projecting device, a barrel, a floating projecting element in said barrel, stressed resilient members connected forwardly and rearwardly to said element for positioning said element at rest within said barrel, means for moving said element to stress one of said members while relieving the stress on the other member, and means for releasing said moving means' to permit the element to be moved by the stressed member, arrested by said other member, and thereafter positioned at rest within said barrel by both of said members.

14. In a ball projecting device, a ball receiving element, a plunger projectible into said element, and forwardly and rearwardly disposed shock cords secured to said plunger for positioning said plunger at rest in said element.

15. In a ball projecting device, a ball receiving element, a ball striking member associated with said element, and forwardly and rearwardly disposed shock cords secured to said member for positioning said member relative to said element.

CLINTON L. WALKER. 

